Lifelong Companion novel Chapter 2

Jill Huang roughly grabbed Melissa's delicate chin, casting a close look at her. "In the past two decades, we've helped you, and now you're going to repay us like this?" she snarled out. "Leave already! Stop being such a fucking burden."

Her face was flushed red. It almost seemed like she was the devil about to break out anytime soon.

Without another word, Jill Huang dug her sharp claw-like fingers deeper and deeper into the skin of Melissa's neck, as if she was trying to see how hard she could go before she could puncture her very skin.

Melissa's breath quickened, the pain bursting through her body. She gasped for air, grappling around Jill Huang's arms. "Let," she gasped. "Let me go!"

Mond Ji paled at his sister's screaming. He was a young frail boy, the one who was always being overlooked.

He gathered all his strength to push the door open and walked towards them, face darkening when he saw what Jill Huang was doing to his sister. "Mom," he said. "Don't do that to my sister! Please!"

Hearing the shrill scream, Jill Huang scowled deeper. She wrangled off Melissa's hand, pointing a polished finger at her supposed son. "You bastard!" she snarled. "Don't talk that bullshit with me. If it hadn't for you two burdens, we would've afforded food now. Look at your sister. Look at how beautiful she is. What use would that be if she's stuck here? She might as well be in the same profession as her mother was in!"

As soon as the words slipped pass her lips, Bob's face took on a ghastly expression. He stumbled upwards, waving a finger at all of them. "Shut up all of you!" he roared. "How dare you call my son a burden?"

Jill stomped over to him like a soldier prepared for war. "What's the matter? Have you forgotten all the days we've spent together?" She motioned to Mond. "You think this kid could give you a grandson? He can't even stand up! Listen, Bob, get a divorce. If you marry me, I'll give you a daughter, way better than that bastard! If..."

As she continued to drone, Melissa closed her eyes. She had enough of this nonsense. Without another word, she helped Mond back to his room. "I just got the report," she said softly. "The doctor said that they already have the bone marrow. Now, I'll just get the money and we can get on with it. I won't let you die, got it?"

Before he could even reply, she stalked out of the room.

'Sell myself?' she thought, chewing her bottom lip. 'As long as he could live...what's my dignity worth?'

Melissa strode out of the house, every step slowly torturing her.

The rain was falling down along the streets. Melissa leaned beside a bus stop to shelter herself from it.

Crowds of people went right and left. Somehow, they all became such a blur to her as if someone had just pressed fast forward over her life.

She hated it, hated feeling this way.

As Melissa was lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice two men approaching her from behind.